The estates will test three charging models - weight-based by building, with a suggested mock charge of $500 per tonne, volume-based by building at $66 per 660-litre bin, and volume-based by household, at 10 cents a litre, for five-, 10- and 15-litre bags.

Rubbish reduction: A 660-litre refuse bin for use in the trial of volume-based charging by building option.

The Environmental Protection Department will conduct a one-month baseline study at each estate between April and June, to determine current waste-disposal levels, followed by a five-month trial period .

The average household disposes of .88kg per person per day, so a three-member household would expect to pay a monthly mock charge of about $40.

Implementation details, including charging levels, will be adjusted after studying a report on the pilot scheme, Mr Wong said.

"The pilot scheme will allow us to accumulate practical experience for the various charging options and identify the difficulties and challenges for reference when we draw up the final way forward,” he added.